Hot Water Bottle Safety Information

Filling hot water bottles

When filling hot water bottles do not use boiling water, very hot water is fine but boiling water can cause splits or leaks and will shorten the life of the hot water bottle.

Do not overfill hot water bottles

Three quarters is the maximum, do not overfill. A hot water bottle will give out plenty of heat and work just as well when filled to the correct level. Expel excess air from the bottle by lowering it carefully onto a flat level surface until water appears at the opening.

Take care when filling hot water bottles

It may help to use a towel to cover the hot water bottle when adding hot water, this will help avoid any burns. For the unsteady hand a hot water bottle filling stand may be the solution.

Tighten carefully

When tightening the stopper make sure it is on correctly, finger tight should be adequate. If loose replace with a new stopper but always replace like for like, not all stoppers are generic.

Care for elderly and children

Use the hot water bottle to warm up the bed or area and remove before the person gets in. This helps to avoid any accidental burns to vulnerable people or children.

Don't sit on hot water bottles

This may sound like obvious advice but it does happen! Never sit or lie on top of a hot water bottle.

Don't use hot water bottles with electric blankets

If using an electric blanket never use a hot water bottle at the same time. Use one or the other but never the two together. Mixing water with electricity is risky and not worth taking a chance. Overheating can also cause problems if using both, a good quality hot water bottle will give plenty of heat. Traditional rubber hot water bottles will hold heat for longer than the newer PVC types.

British Safety Standards

Always buy a hot water bottle that has the British Safety Standard BS1970 mark. There are low budget hot water bottles that fail to meet to the standard with many product recalls from cheap imports. Not worth taking a chance on a product that has to work safely each and every time.

Visual checks

If your old hot water bottle is showing signs of wear and tear replace with a new hot water bottle. Check for splits or perishing and make sure the stopper is a good fit. When storing drain the hot water bottle completely, remove the stopper and store in a cool dark place that is frost free. Always make a thorough check when using for the first time. A good quality hot water bottle will last 3 years, budget bottles may only survive one winter season. Many of the budget hot water bottles suffer leakage problems with poorly sealed stoppers. It is worth replacing your hot water bottles every 3 years with a good reliable quality hot water bottle, over it's lifetime it will cost far less to replace than budget bottles.